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Algeria is preparing for an exceptional olive campaign in 2025-2026, with official estimates pointing to a record olive oil output exceeding 150,000 tonnes, representing a jump of roughly 76% compared with the previous season's 85,000 tonnes, according to data from the National Interprofessional Council for the Olive Branch (CNIFO).
The projected performance follows a trajectory of gradual growth that is set to place Algeria among the world's top ten producers, with significant potential to expand its export footprint if the structural constraints currently limiting access to international markets are addressed.
The national olive grove inventory spans between 440,000 and 500,000 hectares and encompasses more than 65 million trees distributed across dozens of wilayas, led by the Kabylie region, Bejaia, Bouira, M'Sila, and Blida. In favorable seasons, total olive production reaches approximately nine million quintals, the bulk of which is channeled to mills for oil extraction.
Domestic consumption averages between 80,000 and 81,000 tonnes of olive oil annually, meaning the volumes expected this season would, for the first time, generate a meaningful exportable surplus capable of reshaping the sector's trade balance.
Algerian oils, particularly those originating from mountainous regions such as Kabylie, enjoy a strong reputation for high quality and distinctive flavor, with multiple samples winning awards at prestigious international competitions. Cultivation is being diversified across varieties including Sevillano and Chemlali, alongside a growing shift toward organic and sustainable production methods.
The industry has also benefited from government support programs aimed at expanding planted areas, modernizing irrigation networks, and upgrading the roughly 1,700 mills operating across the country, which range from traditional to modern facilities.
Yet the export segment remains the weakest link in the value chain. According to data from the International Olive Council and local reports, exports in the best recent seasons did not exceed approximately 1,000 tonnes, generating limited revenues of just a few million dollars, a figure that falls far short of the country's actual productive capacity. Current exports are concentrated in small shipments directed to limited European markets and to the Algerian diaspora abroad, amid challenges linked to packaging, the absence of international certifications such as ISO, high logistics costs, and intense global competition.
By contrast, the neighboring Tunisian experience stands out as a model worth examining. During the first nine months of the 2025-2026 season, Tunisia posted record olive oil exports of 368,000 tonnes, generating revenues of USD 1.6 billion, following a historic harvest of approximately 500,000 tonnes that secured its position as the world's second-largest producer after Spain. Despite the dominance of bulk oil, which accounts for around 86% of volumes and is largely shipped to Spain and Italy for repackaging, Tunisia has successfully penetrated more than 70 markets, with notable growth in packaged and organic segments, reinforcing olive oil's status as a pillar of the country's agri-food exports.
Algeria and Tunisia share broadly similar climatic and geographic conditions, yet Tunisia has successfully channeled a large share of its output into export markets, while the Algerian industry remains almost entirely dependent on domestic consumption. Sector experts stress that raising the share of locally bottled oil, developing national brands, securing international certifications, and strengthening cold-chain and logistics infrastructure could transform Algeria's anticipated surplus into a significant source of foreign currency.
With government efforts continuing to expand planted areas and lift productivity, and with a quality profile already recognized at the international level, Algeria possesses the fundamentals required to claim a regional and global position in the olive oil market. Realizing that ambition, however, demands a swift transition from a traditional production model to an integrated export-oriented system that draws on regional lessons and responds to rising global demand for high-quality and organic oils.
The current season appears to carry a genuine opportunity to mark a turning point, provided that record production figures are translated into a stronger presence on the international trade map.
Source: Algerian Akhbar El Youm newspaper